World Bank Report Released: China 2030: Building a Modern, Harmonious, and Creative Society

Recently, the World Bank, a partnership established in 1944, that provides "financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world" released a report titled, China 2030: Building a Modern, Harmonious, and Creative Society (2013). According to the press release, the 473-page report, available here, discusses how,

China 2030 is a joint research report authored by a team from the World Bank and the Development Research Center of China’s State Council. It lays out the case for a new development strategy for China to rebalance the role of government and market, private sector and society to reach the goal of becoming a-high income country by 2030.

• Completing the transition to a market economy;
• Accelerating the pace of open innovation;
• Going 'green' to transform environmental stresses into green growth as a driver for development;
• Expanding opportunities and services such as health, education and access to jobs for all people;
• Modernizing and strengthening its domestic fiscal system; and
• Seeking mutually beneficial relations with the world by connecting China's structural reforms to the changing international economy.

China 2030 finds that China should complete its transition to a market economy through enterprise, land, labor, and financial sector reforms, strengthen its private sector, open its markets to greater competition and innovation, and ensure equality of opportunity to help achieve its goal of a new structure for economic growth.

People’s Republic of China Issues Report: China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change (2012)

This past week, The National Development and Reform Commission for The People’s Republic of China, issued a version of a white paper titiled, China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change (2012) [available in English].  According to news reports, the 30-page document "outlines actions taken by the Chinese government to mitigate and adapt to climate change. It also documents measures to promote the building of low-carbon communities and advance international negotiation and cooperation." China Issues Report Addressing Climate Change, Xinhua (Nov. 21, 2012).

Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Indices -- Ernst & Young

Issue 27 of the Country Attractiveness Indices sees a new world order emerging in the clean energy sector – with China now the clear leader in the global renewables market, and also the inclusion of four significant new entrants to the CAI: South Korea, Romania, Egypt, and Mexico.

China’s record spending on its wind industry this quarter represented nearly half of all funds invested in new wind projects around the world. South Korea leads the new entrants to secure 18th position, on the back of its ambitious targets, strong incentives, and robust supply chain. Romania and Egypt both achieved a ranking of 22 as a result of their fast-growing wind markets, while Mexico completes the new line up, ranking 25th, benefiting from challenging targets and strong wind and solar resources.

The lead article discusses progress post the credit crunch, highlighting the differing pace of recovery between Western and BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) nations, and analyzing the effect of commodity and carbon prices. This issue is supplemented by a technology focus article on solar CSP, discussing the key markets, the four major technologies, regulatory drivers and recent news.

Emerging Economies – How the developing world is starting a new era of climate change leadership -- WWF

This report, dated November 2010, by the World Wildlife Federation examines emissions trends and climate action plans for five of the world’s largest developing economies - Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa.

It finds that overall these key emerging economies are acting with greater determination, ambition and energy than several countries in the developed world. But emerging economies could also do more to stave off the worst potential impacts of climate change and the report outlines for each country what the next moves could be.

Memorandum of Understanding between the US EPA and the MEP of China concerning cooperation on environmental policy -- EPA

This Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and China on environmental protection provides for cooperation in the areas of air, and water pollution, toxics, solid wastes, development, policy and enforcement.

China Is Set to Lose 2% of GDP Cleaning Up Decades of Pollution -- Bloomberg

This report from Bloomberg finds that "China, the world’s worst polluter, needs to spend at least 2 percent of gross domestic product a year -- 680 billion yuan at 2009 figures -- to clean up 30 years of industrial waste, said He Ping, chairman of the Washington-based International Fund for China’s Environment. Mun Sing Ho, a senior economist at Dale W. Jorgenson Associates and a visiting scholar at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, put the range at 2 percent to 4 percent of GDP.

Failure to spend that much -- equivalent to the annual GDP of Vietnam -- may cost the Chinese economy half as much again in blighted crops, health costs and pollution-related expenses, He said: “The cleanup can’t catch up with the speed of pollution” if spending is less.

A double-edged approach by China to undo previous contamination and enforce stricter laws against new pollution would raise costs for companies in metals smelting, such as Hunan-based Zhuzhou Smelter Group Co. and Henan Yuguang Gold & Lead Co. in Henan. It would also benefit companies involved in environmental control, like Beijing Originwater Technology Co. and Shenzhen Green Eco-manufacture Hi-tech Co., said Chen Junpeng, an analyst at Donghai Securities Co. in Shanghai."

China overtakes the United States to become world’s largest energy consumer

IEA calculations based on preliminary data show that China has now overtaken the United States to become the world's largest energy user. China's rise to the top ranking was faster than expected as it was much less affected by the global financial crisis than the United States.

U.S.-China Memorandum of Understanding to Enhance Cooperation on Climate Change, Energy and the Environment

This Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and China provides for both countries to pursue areas of cooperation where joint expertise, resources, research capacity and combined market size can accelerate progress towards mutual goals. These include, but are not limited to:

1) Energy conservation and energy efficiency
2) Renewable energy
3) Cleaner uses of coal, and carbon capture and storage
4) Sustainable transportation, including electric vehicles
5) Modernization of the electrical grid
6) Joint research and development of clean energy technologies
7) Clean air
8) Clean water
9) Natural resource conservation, e.g. protection of wetlands and nature reserves
10) Combating climate change and promoting low-carbon economic growth

Greener Plants, Grayer Skies: A Report from the Front Lines of China's Energy Sector

This Report from the Massachussetts Institute of Technology surveys China's energy industry which is growing at a torrid rate. Even with the most advanced environmental protections, China will increase overall pollution due to the growth in the sector. Increasing market-based economic signals may produce environmental better outcomes.

Country Environmental Analysis for the People's Republic of China

This Report by the Asian Development Bank is intended to provide the background information necessary for informed decision making on the environmental and natural resources constraints, needs, and opportunities and challenges faced by PRC, and to be used as a resource document for the upcoming preparation of the 2007–2011 Country Partnership Strategy (CPS 2007–2011) for PRC.

The report proposed eight recommendations to narrow this gap by prioritizing 'Early and Expanded Use of Market-Based Instruments to Promote Efficient Use of Natural Resources and Control Pollution.'